爱思英语编者按：人们买衣服标准的改变是继二战结束后最为奇怪的社会或者说文化现象之一。二战之前的数千年以来，每个人总是在负担得起的前提下买尽可能好的衣服，七十年代，当不再频繁穿着相同款式的衣服变得越发重要时，这一切都开始转变。

The Importance Of Good Clothing
良好衣着的重要性

One of the strangest social or cultural phenomena since the Second World War is the change in criteria which people use to buy garments. For thousands of years before then, individuals wanted the best possible clothing that they could afford and one of the criteria that they used to judge each other was their dress sense or the quality of their clothing.
人们买衣服标准的改变是继二战结束后最为奇怪的社会或者说文化现象之一。二战之前的数千年以来，每个人总是在负担得起的前提下买尽可能好的衣服，而且人们的衣着品味和衣着质量习惯的被用于人与人之间互相评价的标准之一。http://www.engbus.cn英语巴士网

This all started changing in the Seventies when it became more important to not be seen wearing the same item too frequently, so it became more desirable to have five cheap shirts that would not last long than to have one top quality shirt that would last for years. How did this shift in principles come to pass?
七十年代，当不再频繁的穿着相同款式的衣服变得越发重要时，这一切都开始转变，所以人们宁愿拥有一件可以穿上好几年的优质衬衫而舍弃五件只能穿一阵子的便宜货就变得情理之中了。这种原则性的改变是如何发生的呢？http://www.engbus.cn英语巴士网

The most obvious section to blame are the fashion designers (or their imitators) and the advertisers. People without much money to spend on clothes do not want to be seen in the same blue shirt on every other occasion, they would rather have several colours, but perhaps these people do not understand the difference in the quality.
显而易见，很大程度上要归咎于那些时尚设计师（或者他们的模仿者）和广告商们。没有太多钱能花在衣服上的人们并不希望出席各种场合的时候只有一件蓝色的衬衣，他们更希望拥有好几种颜色的衬衫。然而，此类人群可能并没有能力区分出衣服质量上的好坏。http://www.engbus.cn英语巴士网

The quality of one's clothing is vital as most women and about half as many men know. First impressions matter and bright and cheerful (but cheap) is not as impressive to those who are familiar with the difference as quality.
正如大多数女性和几乎半数的男性所知的那样，服装的质量至关重要。第一印象很重要，而且聪明伶俐、和蔼可亲（但却衣着廉价）的人远没有那些深谙衣着质量好差之士给人印象深刻。http://www.engbus.cn英语巴士网

To those people who say that the person ought to matter more than the clothing, I would say 'Yes, in a perfect world. One day, but it is not the way it works now'. Why do individuals dress up for a date, and particularly the first date? Why do individuals dress up for an interview? and why do individuals dress up to go to court?
对那些认为人们不应该花这么多心思在衣服上的人，我想说：“在完美世界的某一天也许你是对的，但就目前来说事实不是那样。”为什么人们要盛装去赴约会，尤其是第一次？为什么人们要精心打扮前去面试？又是为什么人们要正装出庭？http://www.engbus.cn英语巴士网

It is because clothing matters and first impressions matter and deep down, we all know it even though most of us wish that it did not count so much.
那是因为个人穿着十分重要，第一印象十分重要而且根深蒂固，我们都知道这个事实，即便如此我们当中的大部分还是希望衣着打扮的分量不要如此之重。

First of all, it is important to find a style that suits you. Then you should buy pieces of clothing that are good examples of that style. They will not be cheap, but is a Hell's Angel's leather jacket cheap? Absolutely not. Whatever niche you think you fit into or would like to fit into, buy the appropriate clothing to stand out for quality.
首先，选择一个适合你自己的穿衣风格至关重要。然后，你应该买上几件这种风格的典型款式。这些衣服可能不会便宜，但是一件地狱天使的皮夹克会便宜吗？当然不会！无论你认为自己适合哪种款式或想要哪种款式，一定要买一件以质量脱颖而出的衣服。

I am not saying that individuals have to dress appropriate to their age group, I am saying that people should dress appropriate to the upper echelons of their niche group. If you would like to be a Hell's Angel, get one of the best leather jackets and if you want to work in an office, get yourself a good suit. Just because you cannot see the difference between a cheap one and a decent one does not mean that your peers cannot as well.http://www.engbus.cn英语巴士网
我并不是表示人们的恰当穿着必须根据其年龄层，而是说人们的穿着应该向同类群体的上层靠拢。如果你想要成为一个地狱天使的话，那就穿上一件最好的皮夹克吧。如果你想在办公室工作，那就为自己准备一套上好西服。很简单，你不能区分一件地摊货和一件上等货，并不表示你的同行也不能。

You just have so much scope to modify your physical appearance, but you can still create a big impression by wearing quality clothing like a decent overcoat, a decent suit, a good cardigan or a decent shirt. The people who know the difference will notice and it will not damage your prospects.
虽然你有很大的余地来修饰自己的外表, 但你仍然可以通过穿着得当来给人留下很深的印象，比如一件像样的外套、一套得体的西服、一件上好的羊毛衫或者一件优质衬衫。了解个中差异的人会注意到的，而且得体的穿着绝对不会毁了你的前程的。http://www.engbus.cn英语巴士网